Anwar latest target of sedition dragnet

Azmin janji pentadbiran konsep negeri pembangunan

Islamic State blows away Gulf qualms about joining U.S. military action

(Reuters) - It is more than 23 years since Arab countries last made common cause to join U.S.-led military action, and it has taken the threat of Islamic State to persuade them that any public backlash in an already turbulent region is a price worth paying.

Of the five Arab states named by Washington as supporting U.S.-led strikes against the jihadist group in Syria, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed they had actually flown sorties. Saudi Arabia said it had "participated in military operations", and Qatar was believed to have offered only logistical or political support.

But association with the attacks, after years of U.S.-led wars that have antagonized Muslims around the world, is a risk these states are ready to run to quash a group that promises to refashion the Middle East as an Islamic caliphate.

"We see Islamic State as an existential threat. If we don't put a stop to it, it will expand into our area," said Sami al-Faraj, an adviser to the Gulf Cooperation Council, which groups Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

The air and missile strikes were designed to undermine the military and organizational prowess of a group that controls large parts of northeast Syria and has seized swathes of Iraq since June.

As it sucks in support from other less successful rebel groups, and sophisticated American weaponry from routed Iraqi forces, Islamic State has made clear it seeks nothing less than to place the entire Muslim world under medieval-style theocratic rule - a message abhorrent to the Gulf's dynastic rulers.

Not since a multinational coalition ejected Iraq from Kuwait in 1991 have such a large number of Arab countries aligned themselves publicly with U.S.-led armed action in the Arab world.

"They are no longer active, influential neutrals, and are now fast becoming frontline states in a war that is likely to engulf the whole region," said British academic Christopher Davidson.

NEW CONFIDENCE

Although the Gulf states are heavy purchasers of Western military hardware, and Qatar and UAE lent military support to the Libyan forces that toppled Muammar Gaddafi with Western help in 2011, they are normally seen as reliant on the West for their defense in any emergency, as was the case with Kuwait.

The disclosure of Saudi Arabia's involvement in U.S.-led attacks also breaks with the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom's traditional aversion to any publicity, let alone on such a sensitive issue.

"The impression is that the Saudis are willing to trumpet their role," said Neil Partrick, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. "That's a striking development, even though we don't know what their role is."

The kingdom's heir apparent and defense minister, Crown Prince Salman, said in a national day address carried by Saudi media on Tuesday that Riyadh needed to counter militancy more assertively.

"We are concerned because we have not done enough to protect our nation from extremism, and its youths from militancy and radicalism, leading some to adopt violence and replace the doctrine of tolerance with that of takfir (declaring to be an infidel)," local newspapers reported.

GCC adviser Faraj said Gulf Arab action now was "a message to the militants, and to the radicals among our own people, that we mean business about stopping the Islamic State".

The UAE also appears ready not only to take action but also to present a more confident and assertive front.

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, chairwoman of the Emirates Policy Center in Abu Dhabi, told Reuters the UAE's support was in line with its growing capabilities. "It has become a military, economic and political power to reckon with," she said.

Asked about the risk of inviting attacks on the UAE, Ketbi said "terrorism" was a possibility, whether the UAE took part or not.

"There is nothing without a risk. But you are part of an international alliance and you cannot be inactive in the face of terrorism when you have all these resources," she told Reuters.

"GUARD DOGS FOR THE JEWS"

Islamic State itself has threatened to attack any state that supports the U.S. campaign.

Its spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani on Monday reiterated a threat to Saudi Arabia, and dismissed its rulers as "guard dogs for the Jews, and a stick in the hands of the crusaders to be used against Islam".

Riyadh has two big worries about Islamic State: that it will consolidate its rule in Iraq, creating a de facto haven for militants along the kingdom's northern border; and that it will encourage radicals inside the kingdom to mount their own raids.

Faraj said the level of alertness of security forces in Gulf Arab states had been raised for weeks and "today it is at the highest" because of the U.S.-led attacks.

He said security would be heightened in particular near air bases and at logistics and fuelling facilities.

But security is not the only kind of worry facing the Arab members of the anti-Islamic State alliance.

Maintaining a united front may also be hard, because of disputes between Qatar and some of its Gulf Arab neighbors about the role of Islamists in Arab politics.

Although the Gulf states are all opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Saudi Arabia last year leaned heavily on Qatar to desist from providing money and weaponry to some of Syria's more radical Islamist rebels.

Qatar is therefore likely to have been unhappy about the raids' targeting of the Nusrah Front, a group linked to al Qaeda that it seems to see as an authentic Syrian opposition group, diplomats said.

A source close to the Qatar government told Reuters the overnight attacks would not solve anything. He said it was unfair to target only Islamic State when Assad "has been left to kill his people for years".

(Additional reporting by Sami Aboudi, Noah Browning and Amena Bakr, Editing by Kevin Liffey)

ISIS video: 'We will break your crosses and enslave your women'

A video released today by the Islamic State (IS) urges Muslims to "slaughter" Westerners from those
nations which are taking part in an international anti-jihadist coalition.

In a disturbing 42-minute address, spokesman for the terrorist group, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, says: "If you can kill a disbelieving American or European, especially the spiteful and filthy French, or an Australian, or a Canadian ... including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him.

"Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him."

Adnani says both civilians and members of the military are "disbelievers" and therefore "both of their blood and wealth is legal for you to destroy".

Also targeting President Obama, who is leading the fight against IS, Adnani mocks the administration's ruling that America will not enter into a war on the ground in Iraq and Syria.

"No, it will be drawn and dragged. It will come down to the ground and it will be led to its death, grave, and destruction" Adnani says, referring to the president as "the mule of the Jews" and ridiculing the suggestion that the Islamic State is not truly Muslim.

Adnani continues his threat against Westerners, saying : "You will not feel secure even in your bedrooms. You will pay the price when this crusade of yours collapses, and thereafter we will strike you in your homeland, and you will never be able to harm anyone afterwards.

"O America, O allies of America, and O crusaders, know that the matter is more dangerous than you have imagined and greater than you have envisioned," he adds.

"We have warned you that today we are in a new era, an era where the [Islamic] State, its soldiers, and its sons are leaders, not slaves.

"We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah, the Exalted."

The video follows French airstrikes against IS on Friday, which killed dozens of jihadist fighters in northern Iraq.

Other countries have also stepped up their responses to the militant group, with further air strikes expected from the US this week.

According to US Secretary of State John Kerry, more than 50 countries have pledged to join an international coalition against IS, which is thought to have between 20,000 and 31,500 members fighting to create an Islamic caliphate. The group now controls a large stretch of Iraq and Syria.

As part of the effort to eliminate the extremists, President Obama will this week urge the UN to pass a resolution banning would-be jihadists from travelling overseas.

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Man shot dead, two counter-terrorism officers stabbed outside Endeavour Hills police station

A TEEN terror suspect under investigation for making threats against Prime Minister Tony Abbott was shot dead last night after stabbing a Victorian police officer and a federal police agent.

The 18-year-old Narre Warren man, who was under surveillance over his threats against Mr Abbott and had been seen with an Islamic State flag at the Dandenong shopping centre, met police outside Endeavour Hills police station in Melbourne’s southeast about 7.45pm.

He greeted the two officers with a handshake before attacking them, police say.

He stabbed the AFP officer a number of times before twice stabbing the Victorian officer in the forearm, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said.

Mr Cornelius said the Victorian officer fired a single shot that killed the man.

“Our members had no inkling that this individual posed a threat to them,” he said.

“It’s absolutely clear to us that our members really had no choice other than to act in the way in which they did.”

The injured officers, both from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, are in hospital in a stable condition.

Senior intelligence sources confirmed that the terrorism suspect had been among a number of people whose passports were recently cancelled.

Mr Cornelius said police had arranged to meet with the man because of concerns about his behaviour.

But an altercation started after he arrived at the police station, which led the teenager to produce a knife.

The dead man had acted on his own, Mr Cornelius said.

“The individual who has died, was invited and did come of his own free will to the police station,’’ he said.

“Obviously both members are in shock but we are doing everything when can to provide them with support and assistance in what is for any police officer an incredibly difficult and challenging time.”

Read more:  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/man-shot-dead-two-counterterrorism-officers-stabbed-outside-endeavour-hills-police-station/story-fni0fee2-1227068293410?nk=1becb4e2afc862037945e79fb746f1e6

Army chief calls on public to be aware of Isis threat – Bernama

The public, especially those in the east coast of Sabah, should develop deeper level of understanding on the threats posed by the terror organisation, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), in their areas.

Chief of Defence Forces (ATM) General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (pic) said Isis was a real threat and the authorities should take certain action to prevent it from turning into a major problem.

"Public awareness on Isis should be enhanced so that they can understand the issue. We need the support from the people to monitor militancy activities there so that they can help the ATM and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)."

Zulkifeli said this to reporters in response to the threats posed by Isis to Malaysia after opening the Electronic Warfare Training Centre at the Paya Jaras Camp in Sungei Buloh today.

He said there were Malaysians involved in the militant activities in Syria and Iraq, thinking that they were fulfilling their obligations of jihad.

"I'm worried that when they return to Malaysia, they will do something that can threaten the safety of the country, especially after they established a network in neighbouring countries from Syria or Iraq," he said.

On the seminar, Zulkifeli said the ability and capability of defence forces in controlling information and electromagnetic spectrum were the key requirements in electronic warfare to preserve secrecy of information from outside threats.

"Without knowledge and skills in electronic warfare, the ATM will not be able to generate combat power and hence, will probably be exposed to outside threats," he said.

Zulkifeli said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the ATM would acquire high-tech electronic warfare training system, which was expected to close the gap of electronic warfare skills between ATM and the armed forces in developed countries. – Bernama, September 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/army-chief-calls-on-public-to-be-aware-of-isis-threat-bernama#sthash.ZZyyhks5.dpuf

Police crackdown on Indian gangs reignites before Deepavali

Just a month before Deepavali, the spectre of Ops Cantas has resurfaced with a fresh police crackdown on Indian criminal gangs who are allegedly on an intensified prowl before the festive day.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic) said the peninsula-wide crackdown which was undertaken late last year needs to be re-energised due to a spike in extortion activities by the gangs in various towns and cities leading to Deepavali on October 22.

He added that the ministry has identified 23 gangs, including secret societies involved in illegal gambling and drugs, to be banned, in addition to 49 that are already in its black list.

“This is an extension of Ops Cantas,” he told reporters today.

“Several groups have heightened activities to collect ‘protection money’ leading up to Deepavali.

“The police have come to know about this and are tracing their movements,” he added.

“So we are working to weed out these gangs,” he said, stressing that the criminal activities are being done by predominantly Indian gangs.

He called on the public not to cave in to such extortion demands and immediately report cases to the police.

He said there is a tendency for gangs to increase activities to illegally collect money from communities when major festivals are approaching, and the police are keen to clamp down on this trend.

Ops Cantas was launched on August 23 last year. The ministry had announced that as the crackdown escalated, some 1.1 million people were screened and about 40,000 people were arrested in the process by the end of the year. Some 50% of those arrested were Malays, 30% were Indians and the rest from other races.

Wan Junaidi was speaking after attending the Penang state investiture ceremony at the Dewan Sri Penang in George Town. Also present was Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi.

The ceremony, which was officiated by Yang diPertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, was to honour police veterans who had served during the Emergency (from 1948 to 1960), the Communist Insurgency (from 1968 to 1989 in peninsular Malaysia and from 1962 to 1990 in Sabah and Sarawak).

A total of 185 veterans were awarded the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara today, including nine who were honoured posthumously.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-crackdown-on-indian-gangs-reignites-before-deepavali#sthash.FUyPlV1S.dpuf

Cargo worker claims trial to 'mischievous' statement

 

A 24-year-old cargo worker claimed trial in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court to a charge of making a mischievous statement on Facebook, resulting in public fear over his alleged threat to bomb five places.

Syafiq Abdul Wahid is said to have made the statement on the Persatuan Kongsi Gelap Melayu (PKGM) (The Association of Malay Secret Societies ) Facebook page.

He is alleged to have posted: "Amaran kepada pihak berkuasa: Kami dari jemaah Pekida dan beberapa NGO lain termasuk PKGM akan bom tempat yang dimurkai Allah Azzawajalla"

(Warning to the authorities: we from Pekida and several other NGOs including PKGM will bomb several places which have aroused the wrath of Allah.)

He further named those places as the Shah Alam liquor brewery; Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur; Bukit Aman; Batu Caves temple and the National Mosque.

Syafiq allegedly made the posting at a petrol kiosk in Taman Kinrara, in Bandar Kinrara within the Subang Jaya district.

The accused was represented by Mohd Radzlan Jamaluddin.

Sessions judge Yasmin Abdul Razak imposed bail at RM2,000 with one surety and fixed Oct 30 for mention.

It was previously reported that Syafiq was being investigated for sedition for the parody posted on his Facebook page.

The page chronicles the life of a fictional thug who goes by the monicker 'Ayah' (godfather).

If found guilty, Syafiq stands to face a maximum two years’ jail or fine or both.

Anwar latest target of sedition dragnet

VIDEO | 7.04 mins

The Sedition Act crackdown continues with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim being the latest to be investigated over remarks uttered three years ago.

According to PKR legal adviser Latheefa Koya, the probe concerns a speech he delivered during a political rally in Gombak.

Newly appointed Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali was also investigated over the same issue.

"Azmin's statement had already been taken in 2011, but looks like they (the police and the authorities) are re-opening the case," said Latheefa (right).

She said the police are scheduled to record Anwar’s statement on Friday at the PKR headquarters.

PKR's Padang Serai MP N Surendran, who himself is facing two charges under the Sedition Act, would accompany Anwar when his statement is taken.

The case has been classified under Section 4 of the Sedition Act.

Anwar was scheduled to launch the DNA (Datuk Najib Altantuya) campaign at the ceramah held near Taman Melawati on March 25.

Pandemonium erupted when the police light strike force stormed the ceramah some 15 minutes into his speech before an audience numbering around 1,500.

Anwar has already been sentenced to five-years jail by the Court of Appeal, which found him guilty of sodomy and overturned the earlier acquittal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Besides Azmin, the police also recorded statements from Hulu Klang assemblyperson Saari Sungib and Batu Caves assemblyperson Amiruddin Shari.

A smear on moderate Najib's image

Meanwhile PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the sedition charge against Anwar reflected poorly on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's image as a moderate Muslim leader.

"His (Najib's) image consultants are busy labelling him as a Muslim leader who promotes democracy and moderation, even though these labels don't reflect reality," he said in a statement.

Quoting Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan, Nik Nazmi added that Najib and his ministers have a moral responsibility to God and man to ensure the freedom of others.

"To be free is to protect the freedom of others and their dignities," he quoted Tariq as saying.

Ambiga’s NGO calls on Azmin Ali to make reforms

Azmin may have newly assumed his post, but C4 already has recommendations for him.

PETALING JAYA- The Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4), the new NGO headed by former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, released a series of recommendations for the newly minted Selangor Menteri Besar (MB), Azmin Ali.

Saying that Azmin cannot be afforded a “honeymoon period,” C4 called upon Azmin to espouse “competent, credible and clean administrative policies” in order to regain the confidence of Selangor’s electorate, who had to endure eight months of political impasse between PKR and former MB Khalid Ibrahim.

The C4 called for eight key changes to be made in Azmin’s administration. Firstly, clean, transparent and accountable administration, calling into question Azmin’s past as an UMNO politician and “unflattering reputation”. They also recommended an open government relationship, which involves the government and civil society cooperating for better accountability. Public participation was also highlighted in C4′s statement, bringing up the heavy handed decisions of the previous administration on the Kidex highway and other projects.

Prudent financial administration was also called for, as Selangor had RM3 billion in it’s coffers from Khalid’s administration and must be used prudently and in an accountable manner.
C4 also demanded that the state’s Freedom of Information Act make available access to all important state projects. Local elections and open tenders were also part of C4′s recommendations, claiming local council had “inadequately qualified councillors tasked with making decisions they are incapable of,” and that an open tender system would eliminate cronyism and ultimately allow the public to keep an eye on the public service delivery system.

Finally, the C4 asked that a public service Ombudsman be implemented in the name of good governance. Describing it as an “independent oversight mechanism that is tasked to oversee and manage better public services in the State,” it would prove Selangor to be transparent, which is necessary for a “corrupt free state.”

Sultan played his cards skilfully

He is no novice in the game of thrones.

When PKR sacked Khalid Ibrahim from the party, the Sultan of Selangor knew that it was game over for the 14th Menteri Besar (MB) of Selangor. It was no longer a question of whether Khalid would have to go. It was a question of when and how plus who should replace him.

The Selangor State Constitution puts certain things beyond the control of a Sultan. However, there are certain things that fall within his powers and prerogatives.

He has very skilfully played his cards, so that his critics were only able to point out what he should “morally” do rather than what he should “legally” do.

And this was what all those senior lawyers and constitutional experts did when they spoke to the press. They constantly reminded the Sultan about what he should morally do in the selection of an MB to replace Khalid.

In terms of seniority, the other eight Malay rulers consider the Sultan of Selangor as second only to the Sultan of Kedah. This is because he became the Raja Muda of Selangor way back in 1960.

That was more than half a century ago. Hence, he is no novice when it comes to playing the game of thrones. He observed what the rulers did as well as the mistakes they made, which were many. And he swore that he would not blunder like they did.

No doubt it was Pakatan Rakyat that nominated Khalid as the Selangor MB in 2008. However, the Sultan made one thing clear to Khalid: the party can only nominate the MB but it is the Sultan who appoints him.

The MB does not pledge loyalty to the party. He pledges loyalty to the Sultan, the state and the rakyat. Once he is an MB, the party is no longer important to him.

And this was exactly how Khalid ran Selangor. He gave his allegiance to the Sultan, the state and the rakyat and practically ignored what Anwar Ibrahim and the party wanted.

And this was why Anwar and the party wanted Khalid out.

The Sultan, however, refused to accept Khalid’s resignation. He wanted to first resolve the issue of the successor. Only when Khalid’s successor had been decided would he agree to Khalid’s resignation.

The reason for this is that he would not accept an Anwar nominee. The new MB must be someone who, like Khalid, is prepared to pledge loyalty and allegiance to the Sultan, the state and the rakyat.

And that was why it took a long time to decide who the new Selangor MB would be.

Azmin knew he was going to get the job (which he had wanted even in 2008) only if he was prepared to agree to the Sultan’s condition that he be the MB of the Sultan and not the MB of Anwar or PKR.

We shall see over the next 100 days what type of MB Azmin is going to be. Is he going to be the Sultan’s MB or Anwar’s MB? And the way Azmin conducts himself will determine whether the MB’s office is going to have a good relationship with the palace or whether we are going to see conflict between the MB’s office and the palace every step of the way.

Can Zahid also swear to God that police will commence investigations using the Sedition Act “within 24 hours” of a complaint against UMNO Ministers and leaders, including himself?

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

Yesterday, Malaysiakini in its report “Zahid swears to God sedition probes to go on” quoted the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi taking an oath to God that police will commence investigations using the Sedition Act “within 24 hours” of a complaint.

In a speech at an UMNO Lumut event on Sept. 20, Zahid said: “As the minister responsible for the Royal Malaysian Police, wallahi billahi tallahi (I swear to Allah) that if police reports are lodged against any individual who impinged on a sensitive issue, the police will start investigations immediately, if possible within 24 hours.”

Zahid said although he can promise an investigation, the decision on whether or not to prosecute can only be made by the attorney-general.

I want to ask Zahid whether he can also swear to God that police will commence investigations using the Sedition Act “within 24 hours” of a complaint against UMNO Ministers and leaders, including himself?

For instance, former UMNO Minister and Selangor Barisan Nasional/UMNO Chairperson Datuk Noh Omar threatened “an uprising” at a gathering of some 500 people organised by a coalition of NGOs called Gerak Daulat in Shah Alam two days ago.

Will Zahid ensure that police will initiate investigations “within 24 hours” if a police report on sedition is lodged against Noh Omar.
Or even closer home, can Zahid undertake that police will initiate investigations “within 24 hours” if a police report on sedition is lodged against the Home Minister himself?

Zahid’s speech in the Pengakalan Kubor by-election yesterday, as reported by The Malay Mail Online “Zahid Hamidi calls Malays to defend rights, says ‘over our dead bodies’”, about what happened in Perak during the 2009 Constitutional crisis is clearly seditious in trying to incite inter-racial hatred apart from being a tissue of lies and falsehoods.

The Malay Mail Online report said:

“Zahid, who is also home minister, cited incidents surrounding the Perak constitutional crisis to back his claim that divisions among the Malays had given the predominantly Chinese opposition party the DAP space to pit the two races against each other.

“Zahid said the Perak crisis was a good example of how Malays have become so politically divided that it was willing to insult the monarchy, a symbol of Malay sovereignty.

“He suggested some Malays were willingly doing the dirty job for the Chinese by putting their lives on the line.

“’I remember during the Perak crisis, they were protesting (against the Barisan Nasional takeover) at the time, they tried to block the entrance to the state building. You know who were the ones lying down on the streets? All Malays.

“’Where were the DAP people? They were throwing stones at the Raja Muda… they also threw stones at my car. I was there. When they were doing this, those lying down on the road were all Malays,’ he said.”

I am shocked at Zahid’s most irresponsible, inflammatory and seditious speech which were based on lies and falsehoods.

Can Zahid give a public assurance that police investigations will commence against him “within 24 hours” of any police report lodged against him for committing the offence of sedition for such incendiary, inflammatory and seditious speech based on lies and falsehoods?

New Selangor MB Gives Assurance On Good Administration

KLANG, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- New Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali on Tuesday gave the assurance that the state government administration he heads would continue to drive sustainable economic growth and distribute wealth fairly to the people.

The administration would implement a concept of development of the state based on good stewardship, transparency and accountability, he told a press conference at the Istana Alam Shah here.

He pledged to discharge his duties with full responsibility, honesty and integrity to maintain Selangor as a developed, harmonious and united state.

Mohamed Azmin, 50, took his oath of office as the 15th menteri besar of Selangor before the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, at the palace.

The PKR deputy president took over from Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who had held the post for more than six years from 2008.

Asked whether he would carry on implementing the programmes planned by his predecessor, Mohamed Azmin said it was his responsibility to do so.

He explained that Abdul Khalid had laid a good foundation in the administration of the state and he would ensure that the new governance was implemented in a responsible and clean manner in the interests of the people.

"It becomes my responsibility to continue the people-friendly policies that emphasise fair distribution and a clean administration in the interests of the people," he said.

Mohamed Azmin said he would start work tomorrow at the State Secretariat in Shah Alam.

Later, at a thanksgiving reception at his mother's house in Kuala Lumpur, he said the new administration should focus and move forward.

"The (menteri besar) crisis has been going on for far too long. I feel we have the responsibility to end the crisis immediately and get to work as usual," he said.

Stating that he held no malice against anyone in Selangor, he said: "What's important here is that the rakyat (people) of Selangor will benefit from the development. We want to ensure all the agreements signed must be transparent and implemented."

Meanwhile, Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said there was nothing significant in the appointment of Mohamed Azmin as the new menteri besar for the administration would be riding on the success achieved by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government over 15 terms.

Ahmad, who is deputy finance minister, said the BN government had contributed 95 per cent of the development that the state had undergone.

He said the long-drawn 'political drama' in Selangor reflected the discord among the political parties of Pakatan Rakyat that he said began with the so-called 'Kajang Move' to have PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appointed as the menteri besar.

"Nothing was gained out of the Kajang Move," he said, adding that there was only a waste of time and energy, flight of investors, unmanaged water resources and disorganised waste disposal, among others.